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gillette STORIES Tag: advocacy

Home / Kids Health Matters / Tag: advocacy
Patient Stories
May 10, 2022

Sled Hockey Provides Access for Children Who Have Disabilities

You know, there might be nothing more Minnesotan than lacing up a pair of skates and heading out to the rink. “You bet, you’d better believe it,” says Tony Lang of Loretto, Minnesota. “I grew up playing hockey my whole life. It’s a family tradition. In fact, when we had kids I built a rink in our backyard.”
Cerebral Palsy
March 22, 2022

Sophia Soars: A 700-Mile Journey to Treat a Daughter’s Cerebral Palsy

"Every step Sophia takes is a testament to the countless dedicated individuals who made it possible." Sophia and her family traveled from Arkansas to Minnesota for several major surgeries to treat her cerebral palsy.
March 9, 2021

Why I’m Here: For My Sister, for My Patients

When I work with my patients, something that comes out over time is that I understand the profound stress and anxiety that can come with caring for a child who has complex medical needs. I know this because I’ve devoted my career to working with patients who have disabilities, but also because I’ve lived it.
Bones
Boy sledding in the snow during winter.
January 5, 2021

No Helmet, No Slide: Wear a Helmet While Sledding

Going sledding is fun, but it can also be dangerous. Wearing a helmet makes it safer.
Patient Stories
December 28, 2020

My New Year’s Resolution For Now and Always: Being Courageous for My Daughter

Most parents would tell you that having a child changes your life in ways you never could have imagined. That certainly was the case for my husband, Mike and me. Our daughter, Peyton, is now 9 years old, and it’s been a journey of hope, faith and love.
Patient Stories
June 30, 2020

Inimitable Avery: Relentless After Treatment for Scoliosis

"It was definitely a shock. I almost didn’t believe it at first. I’m a competitive athlete; I’d never really been hurt or sick in my entire life. I didn’t even know what scoliosis was." - Avery Wright
Patient Stories
June 4, 2020

Erika Comes Back After Spinal Fusion

"I realized, for the first time, that I was shooting straight. Due to my scoliosis, I'd been overcompensating." Erika, a basketball player, gained confidence after surgery to correct her spinal curvature.
Innovation and Research
Gillette patient, James Bostic
December 2, 2019

Many the Miles: Deep Brain Stimulation Gives the Gift of a Son

As loud music filled the adjoining hallways near the Neurosciences unit at Gillette Children’s, passersby could be forgiven if they were a bit confused. The atmosphere was festive and there was good reason for it. At long last, James Bostic, 17, was able to go home. He had been in the hospital for 15 months.
Cerebral Palsy
October 1, 2019

Dear Theodora: One Family’s Cerebral Palsy Journey

There are few moments in life as exciting and anxiety-inducing as the day you have your first child, but for Andrew Bailey and his wife, Amanda, things were a bit more complicated. Amanda was home in Connecticut getting ready for her baby shower. Andrew, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was in Seattle for an away game.
Safety and Wellness
August 30, 2019

Looking Back: CranioCap Well Worth the Effort

Marlowe Mary Madich is eager to smile, yet surprisingly stingy with her giggles. But her penchant for dancing along to “Shake Your Groove Thing” wins over just about any room pretty rapidly.
Cerebral Palsy
March 27, 2019

The Long Way Round: A Look Back on my Treatment for Cerebral Palsy

When Jenna Robinson was born, she only weighed three pounds and doctors told her parents she’d never be a “rocket scientist.” Now 28, she holds a Master’s degree in social work and has dedicated her life to helping individuals lead more independent lives.
Cerebral Palsy
Group photo of Gillette patients at TCF field during Mauer event
June 26, 2018

Sports, Fundraising and Fun at the Mauer and Friends Kids Classic

It's rare for a singular event to bring so much joy and meaning to so many individuals and organizations, but Gillette Children's celebration of the 3rd Annual Mauer and Friends Kids Classic, did just that. The event took place on a perfect, June day, and 25 Gillette patients and their families had the experience of a lifetime down on the grass of Target Field.
Brain
Old hockey photo of Landon
June 3, 2018

Letters to My Landon: A Message to My Son

Every now and again, I write a new letter to my son, Landon. It’s my testament to him. To who he was, to who he is, and to who he could someday be.
Gillette patient Ronin with mom
May 29, 2018

Expansion of Complex Care Services at Gillette Streamlines Care for Families

In the United States, approximately one in twenty-five children is considered “medically complex.” What this means is that these are individuals who have multiple chronic and severe health conditions.
Cerebral Palsy
April 24, 2018

Title of ‘Minnesota Miss Amazing’ Gives Katie Allee Platform for Advocacy

On April 7th, 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Minnesota Miss Amazing pageant. I was lucky enough to learn about this event from a friend who became involved in the past, and had expressed that the event was an awesome experience for her and her family.
Patient Stories
April 12, 2018

Lincoln is Going to be Lincoln: How I Learned To Stop Worrying About My Son With Special Needs

Parents worry. Parents worry about their child’s growth, development, friends, school, future. It’s a universal truth, baked into our biology. When a child is diagnosed with special needs, however, a parent’s worry can snowball into anxiety. That's what happened to me, but here's what I did.
April 4, 2018

Project SEARCH Helps Students Who Have Disabilities Transition from Classroom to Workplace

Project SEARCH combines classroom instruction and career exploration through hands-on training for students who have disabilities. This is Gillette’s first year participating in the program, through a partnership with the White Bear Lake Area Schools, and the interns have progressed in leaps and bounds.
Cerebral Palsy
Gillette patient Louie Romero posing in the skyway
March 12, 2018

It’s Not a Career, It’s a Calling: Bringing My Son Home

Louie Romero is a smiley kid that simply can’t help the fact that he is irrepressibly charming. It's Louie's personality that makes an impression when you meet him. The fact that he is in a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy ranks much lower on the list.
Cerebral Palsy
Gillette patient Kaidyn with therapy dog at Gillette.
November 16, 2017

Help Fund Animal-Assisted Therapy at Gillette Children’s

“I don’t think it would surprise anyone to learn that a lot of children love dogs,” says Emily DeBreto. “While we’ve had volunteers bring in therapeutic dogs at the hospital for comfort, we wanted to get our dogs more involved with the actual functional aspects of the therapy we’re providing.”
October 25, 2017

It’s Not Just Bumps and Bruises: A Letter on Bullying from an Anonymous Mom

An anonymous mom opens up about her son, bullying, the many lessons she's learned raising a child who has a disability--and the one lesson she'd like to pass on.
Cerebral Palsy
September 26, 2017

Why Medicaid Matters to my Family: Let’s Talk About it

Rebecca Pierce, the mother of a Gillette patient, speaks out about the importance of protecting Medicaid for children who have disabilities.
September 21, 2017

Katie Allee Goes to Washington: A National Advocate for Kids Who Have Disabilities

"This experience allowed me to advocate for the issues I care about to some of the most important people who can present my ideas on a larger scale," says Katie Allee. Learn about Katie's recent trip to D.C. and why she's passionate about being a voice for all children who have complex conditions.
Safety and Wellness
Storm Safety Tips, Gillette children
September 12, 2017

Preparedness Key to Helping Loved Ones Who Have Disabilities Weather Storms Safely

Recent natural disasters in the southern U.S. in the form of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have sparked heightened awareness of why it’s important to have a plan when natural disasters, including blizzards and tornadoes strike your area. Disaster preparedness is even more crucial for families of children who have complex conditions.
Patient Stories
Kelsey, leaning against wall after yoga practice
July 28, 2017

Kelsey Teaches Yoga, Defies Disability

Kelsey's attitude is so affecting, she says that most people don’t notice at first. Kelsey was born with a radial club hand, and her left arm is significantly shorter than her right. This means that when she’s instructing yoga—perhaps the most public of exercises—she’s essentially doing most of it, one-handed.
Cerebral Palsy
July 10, 2017

She’s Katie. It’s Not What She Has, It’s Who She Is

Katie Allee takes Advanced Placement classes. She’s 15, and she’s a straight-A student. Her mind? It’s all there, and she’ll tell you as much. But when it comes to her body physically, for much of her life, she’s had difficulty.
April 26, 2017

120 Years of Can at the Minnesota State Capitol

Gillette patients, families and employees joined together at the Minnesota State Capitol to mark our 120th anniversary. Check out photos of the celebration!
April 13, 2017

Celebrating Gillette Day at the Minnesota Capitol

On April 25, Gillette patients, families and staff will gather at the Minnesota State Capitol to kick off the hospital's 120th anniversary. See why advocating for Minnesota children who have complex conditions is important to Gillette.
Patient Stories
January 11, 2017

Limb Lengthening and Perseverance Give Katelyn Momentum

“They almost didn’t notice it at first,” Karey Hall says. When her daughter Katelyn was born, her left leg was missing two toes and had an abnormal, rainbow-like bend to it. “No one at the clinic had ever seen anything quite like it before.”
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